From Navy Veteran to Endurance Advocate: One Man’s Mission To Support America’s Heroes

Whether it’s serving as a military officer or stepping up as a first responder, it takes a rare combination of dedication, resilience and heart to take on these roles. And for many of these individuals, that same drive carries over into life beyond the badge.

Patch has partnered with T-Mobile to spotlight active-duty military members, veterans and first responders who continue to lead, inspire and give back in meaningful ways across their communities.

At 61, retired Navy veteran Brian O’Malley set out to climb Mount Everest — not for glory, but for a cause close to his heart. The Norfolk local and longtime supporter of the Tunnels to Towers Foundation (T2T) aimed to use the expedition to raise funds and awareness for military and first responder families.

His April 2025 summit didn't go quite as planned: O'Malley didn’t complete the summit, and in fact had a near-fatal experience that required an evacuation, according to The Virginian-Pilot. However, his journey has only deepened his commitment to the mission.

O'Malley has since raised over $25,000 for T2T. The foundation helps families of fallen or catastrophically injured service members and first responders by providing mortgage-free homes and other critical support.

Now, O’Malley is expanding his efforts. According to his T2T campaign page, he’s training for the 50th U.S. Marine Corps Marathon and offering motivational talks to schools, civic groups and athletic teams under the mantra “Training for Life” — a philosophy that embraces preparation, resilience and service.

Want to learn more? Visit the Tunnels to Towers website or read Brian O'Malley's campaign page on T2T.

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